The Water-Sprinkling Festival or Water-Splashing Festival (), is a major and traditional festival of the Dai ethnic group marking the New Year. The Dai are an ethnic minority of China who primarily live in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in southern Yunnan, and their predominant religion is Theravada Buddhism. This festival occurs on the 6th month of the Dai calendar, which usually corresponds to mid-April of the Gregorian calendar. Additionally, it is known as the Festival for Bathing the Buddha, and typically lasts for three days.
On the first day, a variety of activities such as dragon boat races (held on the Lancang River), setting off of Dai rockets (), and cultural and artistic performances are carried out. On the second day, water-splashing activities are enjoyed. The third and final day also coincides with New Year's Day, where people dress up in traditional garb and visit the temple. Water-splashing activities are carried out in the afternoon, where firstly, the women would clean statues of Buddha with water to obtain blessings; thereafter, individuals splash water on each other to symbolise not only good fortune, but also the "cleansing of illnesses and disasters". Furthermore, men and women take part in activities such as the exchange of small gifts and "losing of items", which are believed to bring good luck. People perform masked dances to frighten away evil spirits.
In eastern part of India, specially in Mithilanchal area people celebrate same type of festival on almost same date 13/14 April and call it a Mud Festival or Dhur Khel. Sprinkle mud and water on every one with great tradition and festivity and also this time celebrate New Year as per their calendar. This festival also called "Juir Sheetal" means keeping everyone cool.
Folktale
One folktale related to the Water Splashing Festival is a story about a demon king who took seven wives. One day, his seventh wife discovered his secret; if a strand of his hair was taken, it could be used to cut off his head. So she did so, and his head rolled to the ground and caught fire. There was disaster wherever it rolled. To prevent disaster from spreading, the wives decided to take turns holding the head and splashed water on each other to wash away the Demon King's blood stains. The Dai in Xishuangbanna and Dehong retell the story of the death of the Demon King and commemorate the seven women during the Water Splashing Festival.
Dates in Dai calendar Gregorian Date Animal Day of the week Gregorian Date Animal Day of the week 2001 13 April Snake Friday 2026 13 April Horse Tuesday 2002 13 April Horse Saturday 2027 13 April Goat Thursday 2003 13 April Goat Sunday 2028 13 April Monkey Saturday 2004 13 April Monkey Tuesday 2029 13 April Rooster Sunday 2005 13 April Rooster Wednesday 2030 13 April Dog Monday 2006 13 April Dog Thursday 2031 13 April Elephant Tuesday 2007 13 April Elephant Friday 2032 13 April Rat Thursday 2008 13 April Rat Sunday 2033 13 April Ox Friday 2009 13 April Ox Monday 2034 13 April Tiger Saturday 2010 13 April Tiger Tuesday 2035 13 April Rabbit Sunday 2011 13 April Rabbit Wednesday 2036 13 April Dragon Tuesday 2012 13 April Dragon Friday 2037 13 April Snake Wednesday 2013 13 April Snake Saturday 2038 13 April Horse Thursday 2014 13 April Horse Sunday 2039 13 April Goat Friday 2015 13 April Goat Monday 2040 13 April Monkey Sunday 2016 13 April Monkey Wednesday 2041 13 April Rooster Monday 2017 13 April Rooster Thursday 2042 13 April Dog Tuesday 2018 13 April Dog Friday 2043 13 April Elephant Wednesday 2019 13 April Elephant Saturday 2044 13 April Rat Friday 2020 13 April Rat Monday 2045 13 April Ox Saturday 2021 13 April Ox Tuesday 2046 13 April Tiger Sunday 2022 13 April Tiger Thursday 2047 13 April Rabbit Monday 2023 13 April Rabbit Friday 2048 13 April Dragon Wednesday 2024 13 April Dragon Sunday 2049 13 April Snake Thursday 2025 13 April Snake Monday 2050 13 April Horse Friday
See also List of festivals in China Songkran Water Festival List of Buddhist festivals
References